History

How it all began…

Hospice care has been
around in Great Britain since early 1880’s with the modern hospice
movement starting with Dr Cecily Saunders in the 1960’s. At the
same time Dr Elizabeth Kubler Ross was beginning her famous studies
with dying patients which resulted in her pioneering book “On Death
and Dying” (1969).

Before Hospice Whanganui
provided care to the terminally ill patients in our community, many
patients would inevitably spend their last days/weeks in hospital.
70% of terminally ill deaths occurred in hospital. One of the main
torments suffered by a dying person in hospital, in those days, was
the sense of isolation and loneliness and the separation from all
that was familiar to them.

Wanganui’s hospice
service was founded by the Wanganui Hospital Board, but right from
inception the aim was to locate the service in the community, not in
the hospital.

Betty Bourke

1972

Betty Bourke (Wanganui Base Hospital) travelled to USA and England to look at palliative (hospice) care. After attending a seminar on Hospice Care let by Dame Cecily Saunders this then began a personal campaign to establish hospice care in Wanganui.

1973

Mr Jonathan Hartfield organizes seminars on the topic of dying in hospital. Outcomes from the seminar was that patients should be told the truth about their condition.

Jonathan Hartfield

Up until then, many doctors were reluctant to tell their patient they were dying. Another outcome was for relaxed visiting hours and pain killers/morphine to be used more liberally to manage symptoms and pain, rather than set at a regimented routine.

1976 – 1985

Beds were made available
in Newcomb Ward at Wanganui Hospital specifically for the terminally
ill. This meant that families could come and spend extended periods
of time with their loved one assisting with their care. These
patients were looked after by the local GP’s, Mr Dickson and a
dedicated nursing team trained in palliative care.

1980

The hospital board agrees
to investigate the feasibility of establishing hospice care in
Wanganui. Betty chairs this committee.

Betty Bourke (chair of
Hospital Board) and Mr Jonathan Hartfield (Medical Superintendent)
became the driving force to enable the change on how the terminally
ill were cared for – “to live until the day you die” (prof.
Kubler Ross).

1980

Wanganui Regional Hospice
Service is established (an incorporated society) formalised 1981 but
had been running informally since 1980. Wanganui Base Hospital
district nurses provide care to terminally ill patients in the home
from 8am to 10pm seven days per week. A 2 bed facility at the
Wanganui Base Hospital is available in the medical ward for those
patients who require 24 hour short term care.

1984

At this point in New
Zealand history, there is no national policy on caring for the
terminally ill in New Zealand. The Minister of Health (Mr Gair) sets
up a committee under the Wellington Health Services Advisory
Committee to advise on a regional structure.

1985 – 1995

Patients continue to be
cared for by Hospital district nurses during the day. Dr Elizabeth
Williams, Mr Dave Dickson, trained palliative care nurses and Wiki
Alward continuing hospice care and support for overnight care.

1989

Tom Joll

Tom Joll (General Manager of Wanganui Base Hospital) was appointed a committee member of the Wanganui Regional Hospice Service. This service was looking after patients at the hospital and in their homes.

1991

Tom Joll appointed
Hospice Manager – his vision to have a separate integrated
specialist facility outside the hospital was put in action.

1995

Richmond House on Anzac
Parade was leased to provide a base for palliative care to the
terminally ill. Initially Richmond House was used as a day centre
eventually gaining one bed space for those who needed 24 hour care.
Later on Richmond House was a 3-bed inpatient facility.

It was agreed that this
facility was not going to be able to provide the full service. Either
another building or land was to be purchased for a dedicated
integrated hospice service.

1997

Leta Hawe

After starting negotiations in 1990 the Wanganui Regional Hospice Service gets agreement from the Regional Health Authority to fund 50% of the Hospice budget, thanks to Tom Joll (CEO) and Rev. Leta Hawe (chair).

Jonathan Hartfield and David Dickson appointed medical officers for Wanganui Regional Hospice Service.

1998

2.5 hectares of land on
Virginia Road was purchased from Miss Barbara Stewart for $100K.
This purchase was possible due to a grant of $300K from Trust Bank
Wanganui Community Trust.

1999

Wanganui Regional Hospice
Service changed its name to Hospice Wanganui and became a charitable
trust. 100 Patients are under the care of the Hospice Wanganui this
year.

Bruce Dickson from
Dickson Lonergan starts the design on the new Hospice building after
looking at several Hospices throughout New Zealand. The cost of the
new building is $1.8 million. Tom and Alan Burnet’s driving force
with the support of a dedicated committee was to ensure that before
building work commenced all the funds would be raised, as there was
to be no debt.

2001

2002

Dame Catherine Tizard
(Patron of Hospice at the time) opens the Hospice building at 78
Virginia Road April 2002.

Hospice Shop Alma Road
opens, thanks to the support and commitment of people such as Alan
Burnet.

2005

Farming Friends of
Hospice Whanganui grazing scheme established.

2008

The shop in Alma Road
relocates to Tawa Street, Gonville. Since then two other shops have
opened in Wanganui East and Victoria Avenue. The shops continue to
be a significant fund raising avenue contributing toward 30% of the
overall operating cost of Hospice Whanganui.

2018

Due to a large bequest
from Alan and Fleur Erson further work was completed on the existing
building on Virginia Road. This work included extending the building
to accommodate a meeting room, two offices and a clinic room. The
car park area was also extended. Small but significant modifications
were also undertaken in the nurses’ station.

Lest we forget…

Without Betty Bourke (who was awarded QSM in 1977, CBE in 1988), Mr Jonathan Hartfield, Tom Joll, Rev. Leta Hawe, the dedication and commitment of each successive committee and chair, Wiki Alward (first principal nurse), hospital district nurses, Mr Dave Dickson, Lindsay Watson, and some extraordinary volunteers such as David Bebarfald & Margaret Rowan we wouldn’t have the service as it is today. Everyone involved in getting our terminally ill patients out of hospital care and into specialist palliative care with a purpose built facility have much to be proud of.